Combined basket cover and handle-fastening means



c. J. DuDLl-:Y

COIBINED BASKET COVER AND HANDLEv FASTENING MEANS .Filed Aug. 24, 192elf H`f/9( Nov. 6,f 1928.

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Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED ,STATES 1,690,722 PATENT OFFICE.

COLON I. DU'IDLEIY,` OF HAMBURG, NEW YORK.

GOIIVIBINED BASKET COVER AND HANDLE-FASTENING MEANS.

Application med August e4, 1ere. serial No. 131,273

when it is being filled and to provide suchV means which will keepthebasket from buiging, thus preventing pilfering and loss of contents.

The principal object ofvmy invention has been to provide a device inwhich the fastening means shall bepermanently attached to the rim of thebasket. y

Another object has been to provide aliandle for the basket which isengageable with the fastening means, whereby the basket may be preventedfrom` bulging.

A further object of my invention has been to provide means of such anature that the band at the top. of the basket will be strengthened.

Another object has been to provide a fastening means which will hold thecover firmly down on the basket and positively prevent its shiftingendwise or sidewise.

Moreover, my invention provides a convenient handle for the basket.

The above objects and advantages have been accompished by the deviceshown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fruit basket provided with my fasteningmeans.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation of the basket showingmy fastening means.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 4 4 of1.

My invention is applicable particularly to that type of fruit basketwhich is provided with a laterally arranged .handle at its centralportion. In the drawings 5 represents the basket which is provided withthe usual inner reinforcing cleat 6 and outer reinforcing cleat 7, whichare arranged onl each side of the side wall 8 of the basket. The cover 9of the basket is of the type made up of a plurality of longitudinalcleats 10, end lateral cleats 11, and a central lateral cleat 12.

My fastening means comprises a wire element 13, one arrange-d at eachside of the basket and preferably midway the length thereof. Each ofthese wire elements com prises two side members 14 which are interspacedav distance slightlyin excess of the width of the central lateral covermember 12. The members 14 extend down the outsidek of the basket and incontact with the outer reine forcing member 7, and they have their innerends 15 extended through the side wall 8 of the basket and projectedupwardy on the interior of the basket and in contact with the inner,reinforcing strips 6. This formation.

serves to tightly bind the reinforcing meinbers and side wall togetherand to securely fasten the wire element in place. y r

The portion 16 of the wire adjacent each of the side members 14 is bentinwardly'andn;

downwardly and then upwardly in Z-shaped formation, thus providingContact points. 17. lhen in position, as shown in the4 drawings, thesecontact points bear tightly onto the top of the cover, being in contactwith the side..4

longitudinal strips 10, andone of them is arranged at each side of thecentral lateral strip 12, thus not only firmly holding the basket coverin place, but preventing longitudinal as well as lateral movementthereof. The Y ortions 18 of the wire adjacent the portions 16 are bentinwardly toward each other and terminate in a ring portion'19 at thecenter of the element.

A wire handlef20 is provided at each end with a return bend which formsa hook 21. The handle is curved` as shown in the drawings so that thedistance between the hooks 21 may be increased by straightening the wirewhen it is to be assembled. Vhile the wire elements are securelyfastened to the top rim of the basket, it is obvious that there will beconsiderable resiliency, and when the basket has been filled, the cover9 is slipped under the Contact points 17 of the element at oneA side ofthe basket while the element at the other side is sprung outwardly so asto permit the cover to be brought down in contact with. the top of thebasket, Vwhereupon the fastener at the side` may be easily moved bac-kto the position shown in the drawings. When the cover is in placeand thefasteners are moved' to the positions shown, the wire handle 2O ispntinto position by first en gaging the hook 21 at one end with one oftheelements 13 and drawing it over toward the element of the oppositeside` whereupon it may be engaged with this element by a i temporarystraightening; act-ionof the wire which causes the length to 'increasesufiiciently so as to permit the hook 21 at the freev end tofbe loopedinto the ing member 19 of the element at'that end. After the handle hasbeen engagedythe resiliency out the Wirey from which it is formed Willbring itback to its norma-l cnrvedormation, which Will causethe elements13 to be drawn toward each other, and thereby7 securely hold the coverin place, as Well as preventing the sides of the basket from bulging. itwill be obvious that when tne basket is being handled, the Wire elementswill be brought into firmer `Contact'with the Cover reason of the Weightof 4the contents of the basket. @ne large advantage of thisconstruct-ion, is that the -basket when prod-nced'by'the actory'anddelivered to the eonsuinero'anbe Aimmediately `pnt into use Withoutfurther change or 4additional labor. y

`Obx'flonsly, somemodications 'of lthe de- V=taifls herein show-n anddescribed may be made Without departing vfrom Ithe spirltoi Inyinvent-ionor vthefscope o Ythe appended cla-rms, and ,I do not,thereto-re, *wish to be limited `to the" -eXa-ct embodiment hereinshownand described, the form sho-Wn Vbeing i Y Vmerely a prefer-redembodimentthereof;

l Having thusdescribed myinvent'ion, what I-elaimls: l; 'The combinationwith a basket and cover, the ooverhaving a central sla-t, of coverfastening means, comprising a Wire element arranged at each side of thebasket, each element being providediwith tWoZLsh'aped portions5 onearranged on each side of `the central slat and engaging the cover, and ahandle for connect-ing the fastening elements together.

.free tomoveforwardly and bac-kwardl;7 upon the application of handpressure, so as to move the Z-shaped portions into and out of engagement.with the cover.

3. The combination with a basket and cover, the cover having a central`slat,of`cover fastening means com v)risine'a Wire element i 2D 7 Darrangedat each sideo' the basket, each element 'being provided `Withtwo `Z-shaped portions,"one arranged on each side of the central slatand engaging the cov-er, the outside 4vertical portion of each of theWire elements beingl ireeto vmove forwardly and baekWardly upon the'applicationA of hand 1 e pressure, 'so as to move the Z-'s'hapedportion intoand ontof engagement with lthe' cover,4 and a handle forconnecting 'the fastening ele# ments together.

In testimony Whereoi", I have A'hereunto signed my name.y

- COLON .rnUnLni/

